Sci fi serial ‘Orphan Black’ early winner at Screen Awards with eight prizes

Photo: Facebook Page of “Orphan Black”

TORONTO–The sci-fi serial “Orphan Black” heads into this weekend’s Canadian Screen Awards with a leading eight trophies already under its belt.

The Space smash became the TV leader at an early industry gala that bestowed acting awards to supporting actor Jordan Gavaris (who plays Felix), supporting actress Maria Doyle Kennedy (Mrs. S) and guest performer Natalie Lisinska (Aynsley).

It also beat drama series rivals in categories for best writing, best direction, best photography, best picture editing and best production design or art direction.

The TMN/Movie Central comedy “Less Than Kind” collected four prizes in the comedy categories, including best supporting actor or guest actor for Nicholas Campbell, best direction, best photography and best picture editing.

“Degrassi” collected four awards in the children’s or youth categories, including best series, best direction, best writing and best performance for young actor Dylan Everett (Campbell Saunders).

Winners in the marquee film and TV categories will be announced at a star-studded bash in Toronto on Sunday.

Denis Villeneuve’s surreal feature “Enemy” leads the film contenders.

Martin Short hosts that bash in Toronto.

It will be broadcast on CBC-TV.

In other early awards, Bravo’s “The Borgias” was named best international drama, Space’s “Borealis” earned best dramatic miniseries or TV movie and “Splatalot” was named best children’s or youth non-fiction program or series.

Multiple winners Wednesday included “Rick Mercer Report,” which nabbed best variety or sketch comedy program, best direction in a variety or sketch series, and best performance in a variety or sketch series for its star Mercer.

An industry gala on Tuesday night awarded multiple trophies to CTV’s reality show “The Amazing Race Canada” and Food Network Canada’s lifestyle series “You Gotta Eat Here!”

TSN’s coverage of the Grey Cup topped sports categories with several wins, while “CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme” was named best national newscast and “CBC News: the fifth estate” claimed best news information series.

The Canadian Screen Awards celebrate the best in homegrown film, television and digital media.